ISBN barcodes for books
Where to get an ISBN for your book
Short answer
You get an ISBN from the official ISBN agency of the country where you, the publisher, are based. In the US that is Bowker, in the UK and Ireland it is NielsenIQ BookData, in Canada it is Library and Archives Canada (free for eligible Canadian publishers), and in Australia it is Thorpe-Bowker. The International ISBN Agency lists the agency for every other country. Once you have the number, the barcode is something you can make yourself.
The rule: your country, not the printer's
ISBNs are issued by national and regional agencies coordinated by the International ISBN Agency in London, which ISO appoints as the registration authority for the system. You apply to the agency where the publisher's main office is (or where you live, if you publish yourself). It does not matter where the book is printed or where it will be sold.
The official list of agencies, with links, is on the International ISBN Agency's Find an agency page. Use that list rather than a search result: resellers often look official.
Agencies in the main English-speaking markets
| Country | Agency | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Bowker (myidentifiers.com) | Paid, cheaper per number in blocks | Bowker is the only official US agency |
| United Kingdom and Ireland | NielsenIQ BookData ISBN Agency | Paid | Sold through the Nielsen ISBN Store |
| Canada | Library and Archives Canada (ISBN Canada); BAnQ for French-language publishers in Quebec | Free for eligible Canadian publishers | Self-publishers must live in Canada |
| Australia | Thorpe-Bowker (myidentifiers.com.au) | Paid | Only serves publishers based in Australia |
| Other countries | See the International ISBN Agency list | Varies, free in some countries | Often the national library |
Prices change, so we do not list them here. Check the agency's own page.
A rule worth knowing: buy only from the official agency or a reseller it names. An ISBN bought from an unofficial reseller can end up registered to the reseller as publisher, not to you.
Free platform ISBNs: when they are enough
Amazon KDP offers a free ISBN for paperbacks and hardcovers. KDP's help says it can only be used on KDP, and your book shows "Independently published" as the imprint. Other platforms have similar offers with similar limits.
A free platform ISBN can be fine if:
- you only sell that edition through that platform;
- you do not mind the platform's name or the generic label as publisher.
Your own ISBN makes more sense if:
- you sell the same paperback through several channels (for example KDP and IngramSpark);
- you want your own imprint name in catalogs and library records;
- you may move the book to another printer later.
With a free KDP ISBN you usually do not need your own barcode at all, since KDP places one on the cover. If you want to place it yourself, the number works in any barcode generator like any other ISBN.
How many ISBNs do you need?
One per format and edition. A paperback and a hardcover of the same text are two products, so two ISBNs. If you give an eBook an ISBN, each separately offered eBook format gets its own; the ISBN Users' Manual has the details. An unchanged reprint keeps its ISBN. This is why agencies sell ISBNs in blocks; if you plan a series or several formats, a block is often cheaper per number than single ISBNs.
After you get the ISBN
- Register the title details (metadata) in your agency account: title, author, format, publication date.
- Put the ISBN on the copyright page.
- Make the barcode for each printed format and place it on the back cover. You do not need to buy a barcode from the agency; a correct EAN-13 of your ISBN is exactly what the agency would give you. See ISBN vs barcode.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy an ISBN from Barcode Rocket?
No. We do not sell ISBNs and never invent one. Get it from your national agency, then make the barcode here.
Can I use a US ISBN if I live in another country?
Agencies serve publishers based in their own territory. The UK and Australian agencies say so on their own pages, and the International ISBN Agency sends publishers to the agency for their country. Use yours.
Is an ISBN the same as copyright?
No. The ISBN identifies a product for the book trade. It does not register or protect your copyright.
Does an eBook need an ISBN?
It depends on the store. KDP says an ISBN is optional for Kindle eBooks. If you assign one, it is separate from the print ISBN, and an eBook never needs a barcode.
Sources
- International ISBN Agency, Find an agency: isbn-international.org/agencies
- International ISBN Agency, ISBN Users' Manual: isbn-international.org
- Bowker, official US ISBN agency: myidentifiers.com
- NielsenIQ BookData ISBN Agency (UK and Ireland): nielseniq.com
- Library and Archives Canada, About ISBNs: canada.ca
- National Library of Australia, ISBN: library.gov.au
- Amazon KDP Help, What is an ISBN and Imprint? (ISBN optional for eBooks): kdp.amazon.com
- Nielsen ISBN Store, About: nielsenisbnstore.com
- Thorpe-Bowker, Australian ISBN Agency: bowker.com/thorpe-bowker